Foldable table



May 30, 1933. w. c. COLLIGNON 1,911,750

FOLDABLE TABLE Filed May 4, 1951 Patented May 30, 1933 UNITED STATESPATENT-f FOLDABLE TABLE Application filed May 4, 1931. Serial'No.534,788.

This invention relates to folding articles of furniture of the portableclass, and particularly to folding tables, benches, stools and otherarticles having legs and a flat'upper surface, being primarily concernedwith the mechanism for enabling the articles to be folded into compactform for easy transportation and so as to occupya small space.

., In the past, devices of this type have in 19 general embraced a flatsurface, as for example, the top-of atable, which may be of single orunitary construction in smallsizes and foldable sections in'the largersizes. Regardless of size, these articles have in the 'main, includedfolding legsor supports at tion-served quite adequately for articles ofrelatively small size, the prior art construction was objectionable whenused in the 20 larger size articles, sincefthere would be a tendencyfo'rthe table top to sagjwhc n loaded, especially was this true in tableshaving very long tops. Obviously, this construction is disadvantageousin that it is i often very important that the top should remainperfectly flat when the table is loaded. This invention has, therefore,been designed to overcome the above noted defects and objections, in theprovision of a foldable table which'is adapted to be folded to assume anexceedingly compact form, and yet of such construction, that it may beembodied in relatively large tables-with equal facility.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an intermediatefoldable' support for the table, which is adapted to automaticallyassume its extended position when the table is unfolded, and which'willin the unfolded 40 position, retain the support rigidly againstmovement. a

- It is also an object of this invention to rovide anti-frictionmeans,-particularly in foldable tableswhich are tooheavy to be easilycarried, whereby the table'may be easily and readily moved from onelocation to another, when in the folded position.

Some of the more salient features, char acteristics and advantages ofthe device em- 'bodying the presentinvention have been folded position.the ends of the tables. While'this construc- -hinges 3' v supportingmember 5 so that when the table above set forth, others will becomeapparent from the following disclosures.

The inventlon includes these and other fea- 'tures' of construction andCOIIlblIiii/HOII of parts, hereinafter-described and shown ina preferredform in .the drawing, as more particularly indicated by the claims.

On the drawing Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a device embodyingprinciples of my invention, shown adjusted to position for use as atable orthelike. i 7

FigmreQ is-a'bottomplan view of the device, showing the end supportingmembers in Figure 3 isa side elevation of the device in folded position.4

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse section taken substantially on lineIV.IV of Figurel. i

Figure; 5 is an enlarged" fragmentary View, showing the manner in whichthe intermediate support and top sections are "connected together, andalso the relative posi-v tions of the supporting members and top 5sections when folded.

FigureG is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of a portion of thebracing means for the end'supporting members.

As shown on the drawing: 1

In the illustrated embodiment of this invention there is shown afoldable table, but

it is to be noted that many and other varied uses or devicesmaybeadapted orformed embodying features ofthe present inventionf 5 aswill become apparent to one skilled in the art, without departingfrom'ithe spirit and scope of the invention For example, the in--vention may be incorporated 'in seats,

benches, and the like.

The table as shown in the present embodiment comprises a pair of topsections 1 and 2, as shown in Figure l, whichare arranged in end to endalignment'with the adjacent ends abutting. These top sections arerespectively hingedly connected by means of and 4: to the upper marginofa is inunfolded position, the joint 6 between the abutting'endsof thetop sections is centable is unfolded and set up in a position for use.These hinges also enable relative pivotal movement between the topsections 1 and 2 and the supporting member 5 so that when the table isfolded, these sections and supporting member will be in spacedjuxtaposed relationship as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 5. Itis to be noted that in the folded position, the topsections are disposedoutwardly from the supporting member 5, and that the previously abuttingends, that is, the hinged ends of the sections proj ect beyond thehinged end of the supporting member 5, thereby serving to seal andprotectthe hinged members against, damage whenqthe table. is being-moved from one location to another. 1

Since the under structures of the sections land 2 are identical, exceptfor their opposite dispositions, only one set need herein be described.A pair of spaced legs 77 joined at their upper ends by a strip or yoke 8are hinged on the under side of each of the sections 1 and 2 asindicated at 9. In order to increase the stability and provide adequaterigidity, the legs 7-7 are connected adjacent their free ends by abracing member 10. It

:is'to be noted that when the table is. set up and the legs 7-7 are inupright position, the upper edge of the yoke abuts theunder surfaceofthe section to whlch it is connected thereby providing additionalrigidity which tends to prevent the table from. wabbling.

In order to prevent folding thelegs- 77 and rigidly retain them inupright position when the table is set up,-bracing meansare providedwhich connect. between the legs ;and=the top section withfwhich the legsare associated. These means comprise a pair of upwardly convergmgmembers11-,11 which are pivotally connected at their lower ends asindicated at 12 to the'inner surfaces of the legs. The adjacent ends ofthe members 11 are deflected to form spaced parallel lugs 13-13which areprovided with aligned apertures for receiving a pivot pin 1f1. Thispivot pin forms a pivotal .connectlon to a bracing member 15 having oneend disposed between the lugs 1313 and its other end pivotally connectedto a suitable bracket 16 secured to the under side of the section towhich the legs are connected. 1

WVith the foregoing arrangement, it will be observed that when the legs77 are in upright position, the bracing members 11-11 and 13 areextended and lie in the same .plane, as shown in Figure 1. When,however, the legs 7--7 are folded against the under sideof the sectionto which they are connected, the bracing members are folded so that thebracket 16 is disposed between the pivotal connections 12 of the members11 to the legs, and the bracing members lie recessed portions 17 forreceiving a clamping screw 18 which extends through and threadedlyengages the end of member 15. One end of this screw is provided with awing head 19 which may be tightened against the surface of the lug 13adjacent one ofthe recessed portions to securely clamp the members 11and 15 in extended position. 1

Inlarge size tables, I have found it par- ..ticularly advantageous toprovide anti-friction means, whereby the table may be convenlentlyrolled without the necessity of having to lift the entire table, fromone po-- sition to, another. The anti-friction means comprises ballretaining sockets, 20 which are mounted in the free endsof the topsections 1 and 2 and have rotatably mounted balls 21 therein whichproject past the edges? of the top sections, as best shown inFigure 5.As shown in'Figure 3, it will be noted that when theftable is folded,the balls 21 in each top section are spaced apart and enable the foldedtable to be supported upon;

the balls and slidably move from one. location to another.

From the foregoing,

it will be apparent that I have provided a foldable table orsim- .ilardevice, which is readily and easily folded to assume aniexceedinglycompact form, and yet of suchconstruction that it may be embodied inrelatively large tables; a table .which is provided with an intermediatefoldable support arranged to automatically.

assume an extended position when thetable is unfolded and set up foruse, this support being rigidly held against movement, when the table isin position of use; and which is provided with novel anti-frictionmeans.

whereby the folded table may be easily and readily moved fromonelocation to another, without the necessity of having to lift the entireweight of the table.

Now, it is of course to be understood that although I have described indetail thepreferred embodiment of myginvention, the invention is not tobe-thus limited. but only insofar as. defined by the scope and spiritofthe appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A foldingotable. comprising a pair of top sections in end to endrelationship with their innerends abutting, a support common totheabutting ends of said sections,

the upper edge of said support being of such width as to extend over theunder surface of the abutting ends of said sections, and hinge meansconnecting each side of the support to the end of the section contiguousthereto, said means being arranged to enable folding of said sectionsand support into superposed relationship.

2. A folding table comprising a pair of top sections in end to endrelationship, a common support for the contiguous ends of said sections,hinges on the opposite sides connected to the respective sections, saidhinges being disposed in such a manner as to enable the under surfacesof the contiguous ends to engage against the upper edge of the support,when the sections are in the same plane, whereby the support is rigidlyheld against movement relative to said sections, and other supports forthe outer ends of said sections.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name at Chicago, CookCounty,

Illinois. 1

WILLIAM C. COLLIGNON.

